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Top Things to Do in Kansas City, Missouri

The state’s second-largest metro has way more to offer than just its famed jazz and barbecue. See our guide for recommendations on what to do, where to eat and where to stay.

By the editors of MidwestLiving.com

Do

American Jazz Museum The interactive exhibits tap KC’s musical heritage. Visit in the evening for live sets (some free) in the Blue Room Jazz Club. americanjazzmuseum.org

Arabia Steamboat Museum Well-preserved cargo recovered from a steamboat that sank in 1856 gives insight into life in that era. 1856.com

Arrowhead Stadium Come to watch the National Football League’s Chiefs. The 2015 World Series champions Royals play in neighboring Kauffman Stadium. chiefs.com

Boulevard Brewing Company Sixty-minute tours end with tastings of one of the Midwest’s largest line of specialty beers. boulevard.com

Country Club Plaza High-end stores, restaurants and some of Kansas City’s signature fountains (one modeled after a 14th-century fountain in Seville) fill this Spanish-style shopping district. countryclubplaza.com

Country Club Plaza

Crossroads Arts District The area contains more than 150 galleries and artists’ studios, as well as 60 restaurants and 40 shops. Outdoor murals reflect the creative spirit. kccrossroads.org

Crown Center Kids dig creating crafts with Hallmark materials in Kaleidoscope, as well as visiting the Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center. crowncenter.com

Kansas City Zoo See nearly 1,700 animals, including 60-plus penguins, a sea lion show and a lively gang of orangutans who show off painting skills. kansascityzoo.org

Kansas City Zoo

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Two venues offer world-class acoustics for productions from the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. kauffmancenter.org

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art This free museum packs a lot into a relatively small space. The artistry continues at Cafe Sebastienne. kemperart.org

National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Peer at tiny masterpieces and vintage toys among the more than 72,000 objects collected by this University of Missouri- Kansas City museum. toyandminiaturemuseum.org

National World War I Museum and Memorial Exhibits at the nation’s leading World War I museum reveal the high cost of a war often overshadowed by World War II. theworldwar.org

Power and Light District The downtown entertainment area pulses with energy from bars, clubs, restaurants, shops and theaters. powerandlightdistrict.com

River Market Kansas City’s oldest neighborhood has ethnic grocers, shops and loads of restaurants, plus it hosts a farmers market on weekends. kcrivermarket.com

Taste of Kansas City Food Tours Between bites, get the lowdown on 1930s Missouri political boss Tom Pendergast’s bootlegging and the Crossroads Arts District renaissance. tasteofkansascityfoodtours.com

Union Station A 1914 depot houses shops, Science City, a planetarium, traveling exhibits, a stage and movie theater. Pierpont’s at Union Station serves steaks and seafood in an upscale turn-of-the-century ambience. unionstation.org

Union Station

Westport Since 1850, Westport has been known as a resupply spot; these days visitors hit the neighborhood’s cafes, galleries and boutiques. westportkcmo.com

Worlds of Fun One ticket grants entry to both the theme park and Oceans of Fun water park. The Nordic Chaser family boat ride debuts in 2018. worldsoffun.com

Eat

BBQ The town has too many barbecue joints to list, but here are a few to whet your appetite: Arthur Bryant’s, BB’s Lawnside BBQ, Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, Gates Bar-B-Q, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Snead’s Bar-B-Q, Q39 and Woodyard Bar-B-Que.

Corvino Supper Club and Tasting Room Live music every night amps up the energy at this KC newcomer. Try shareable plates at the Supper Club or a chef’s menu with wine pairings in the 18-seat Tasting Room. corvino.com

Eggtc Start the day with a veggie-filled Garden of Eden Frittata or crepes with salmon and goat cheese. eggtckc.com

La Bodega The only place in town for Spanish tapas and cuisine is always packed. Diners especially love the three paella dishes. labodegakc.com

Lidia’s Kansas City North of Union Station, PBS TV chef Lidia Bastianich lends her name (and her recipes) to a menu of authentic Italian fare. lidias-kc.com

McCoy’s Public House In the Westport neighborhood, its patio is the place to dine on burgers, oven-fired pizzas and beers brewed on-site. mccoyskc.com

Michael Smith You can easily drop a bundle at the James Beard Award-winning chef’s restaurant, but the eight-hour pork roast and risotto are worth it. Or go next door to Smith’s less pricey Extra Virgin. michaelsmithkc.com